Learning Curve

We headed into the centre today, with great plans to complete an activity with the "kids" as apart of our needs assessment. We asked them to draw/write where they see their lives in the future, regarding all aspects of their lives (self-care, productivity, leisure, ya know, classic COPM). Reflecting on it now, it wasn't the greatest activity, and we realized that these kids need more structure and direction to complete abstract concepts. We got drawings of houses, flowers, nature, and instruments. Included were some sentences regarding wanting to live in Sarajevo, the mountains, owning a recording studio, and one young adult would like to marry me. Unfortunately, these weren't exactly the type of ideas we were hoping to get. So we worked with Hana on reworking some of our next steps. We need more structured type interviews/surveys/focus groups with the kids, with very goal directed questions. We have to do our needs assessments in smaller groups, because sometimes there can be 20 people in and out of the smallest closet of a room, with people yelling, laughing, talking, crying, tantruming, which even I find distracting. We also realized that the kids don't have concepts of time. Majority of them can't differentiate between a week from now, a month, a year or 5 years from now. So Ana and I worked this afternoon on a few different options reworking our needs assessment. It is also difficult because of the wide range of ages at the association, and they are generally altogether, doing the same activities. So doing a needs assessment with a 10 year old is much different than adults in their 30's. We weren't expecting many people in their late 20's and 30's. But we're OTs; we can adapt and we will.

Tomorrow we're all going on an excursion to a spring (the start of the river that runs through Sarajevo). The centre has been planning this excursion since we arrived, so it should be good. Any trip with the association will be wonderful, and I'm certain it will be filled with smiles and laughter the whole day through. Promaja is punishing me with my heat rash, and I'm still super itchy. The weather today has been on drugs, with a combination of sunce (sunshine) with not a cloud to be seen, to torrential downpour in matter of moments. I hope it smartens up for tomorrow, but isn't too hot so this darn rash stops. I feel I'm on the mend, and with positive thoughts, I'll be back to normal in no time. Moral of the story, don't' doubt promaja.

Today was the first time I ventured out and about in the city alone (without my trusty-sidekick, Ana, or a friend), and boy was it an adventure. My goal: to get to this book store I saw a few days ago, and see if they have an English/Bosnian pocket dictionary. You'd think English/Bosnian would be pretty standard considering this is Bosnia, and English is one of the most common languages in the world. How eurocentric of me, I know. But it's easier to find Italian/Bosnia, French, Slovakian, Russian, Japanese, but no English. Unless I'd like to purchase a massive encyclopedia sized monster, it's been impossible... until today. Today I went to the Knjiga (which I mistakenly call Ninjas cause it's easier), and found a not-so-pocket sized dictionary. I was pretty excited, but would need to purchase Men's XL cargo pants to have this dictionary in a pocket. I think they should rename pocket dictionaries to miniature, or petite dictionaries. But maybe that's just me. While I was in the reference section of the bookstore, I got approached by a man in his late 30's, early 40's. As I'm holding my English/Bosnian dictionary, he begins speaking to me in Bosnian. I'm pretty sure the confused look on my face (or the blond hair/blue eyes) allowed him to assume that I'm a foreigner. I muttered a few things in Bosnian, and he then started speaking to me in broken English, and being Canadian, I obviously attempted to carry on a conversation. After exchange of social niceties (where you from, what are you doing here, yada yada yada), I was expecting to be on my merry way to purchase my dictionary and continue exploring the city, but he demanded that I go for coffee with him. I politely said that I was to meet up with a friend shortly (a white lie. I was to meet up with Ana at 6-6:30, but it was only about 4:50), and tried to leave. He said even 15 minutes is enough time, and I started to get the heebie jeebies, so I then went and perused the children's section, carefully reading Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hanzel and Gretel, pretending I was interested in books I've read a thousand times in English, but can't understand most words in Bosnian. I thought I was in the clear, and purchased my dictionary, and went to leave, and there he was. He asked if he could call me, and I said I didn't have a phone (truthfully, I don't). He asked what way I was going, and he said he was going in the same direction and would walk me to where I was meeting my friend. I then faked, and said I got my directions wrong (I have a geography major, this never happens), turned and walked in the other direction quickly, waving cao! Maybe it's the Canadian in me, I just have a hard time being mean, and I am my Mother's daughter, and will talk to strangers. My next Bosnian lessons will need to be more aggressive goodbyes and dismissals.

After walking about 10 minutes in the opposite direction of where I needed to go, I turned around, and walked back taking in the city, it's sights, sounds, and people. There were thousands of people out and about, having coffee with colleagues, shopping with friends, or having a drink with lovers. I love people watching in any city, and making up histories for what is going on within certain situations. I must have got caught up in all of this, but didn't realize that the darkest clouds rolled in (almost instantly), and torrential downpour started. Of course I don't have an umbrella, and just bought a small dictionary that won't protect me from anything. So I naturally took cover under one of the shop's awning, hoping for it to pass. Of course, it didn't for about 60 minutes. I was lucky to make a new friend, who joined me under the awning in refuge from the rain for a minute or two. She immediately started speaking to me in English, and we talked for a bit. I realized that she's from Montenegro, studying Law in Sarajevo. She had an umbrella, and offered to walk me home (she asked where abouts in the city I was living, and I said 3 minutes away), and she then insisted on walking me home so I didn't get any more drenched than I already was. She was very nice, and the first person I've met from Montenegro. I hope to see her again, and repay my thanks. But that was about the extent of our day. We did more work on the project, made dinner, and watched Netherlands beat Uruguay in the city centre. It was another one of those very interesting days!

Balkanika song of the day is a traditional Balkanika song, from the 90's. This is the roots of Balkanika, and we still hear it when we're out and about, and everyone seems to know the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e25_3FuQWHg

And I leave you with some photos of yesterday... our adventures with Hana and Nermin.